Japan-ASEAN Summit 2020: Suga Confirms Cooperation on ‘Free and Open’ Indo-Pacific Region

12 November 2020 -

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga attended the Japan-ASEAN summit on 12 November and disseminated the position of the nation on the East and South China Seas. PM Suga said that in addition to other issues, the establishment of the ASEAN Infectious Disease Control Centre was also announced on November 12 and pledged that the country will continue to extend support to local infectious disease countermeasures. This comes amid the COVID-19 Pandemic when most nations across the globe are gripped with the surge in infections along with its impact of other industries and crippling the economy. At the virtual ASEAN-Japan Summit, the pandemic and Indo-pacific region were two main topics of discussion. PM Suga said, “In addition, the establishment of the ASEAN Infectious Disease Control Centre was announced. We will continue to firmly support local infectious disease countermeasures.”

The Feasibility Study on the Establishment of “ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases” is currently on-going and supported by the Government of Japan through Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).